Machine for opening envelops.



y E. A. BIRCHER. MACHINE FOR OPENING ENVELOPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 27. I912. I

1 1 97,788 Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

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E. A. BIRCHER.

MACHINE FOR OPENING ENVELOPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.21, 1912.

Patented Sept. 12,1916.

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EUGENE A. BIEGHEB, OF ROCHESTER, YORK, ASSIG-NOB TO GEORGE A. COGSWELLAND HARRY C. NOBLES, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, .AN'D WILLIAM B. THUESI'ON,

OF LIVONIA, NEW YORK.

MACHINE F03, OPENING ENVELUPS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EUGENE A. BIRCHLER, ofRochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Machines for Opening Envelops, whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification and shownin the accompanying drawings.

Thepresent invention relates to machines for opening envelops and anobject of the same is to provide a motor-operated cutter which may bemanufactured at a very small expense.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in whichthe cutter operating motor is only brought into operation when anenvelop is presented to the cutter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gage for determining theamount to be removed from the envelop, said gage being adapted tocontrol the operation of the motor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an envelop openerwhich will operate simultaneously upon two sides of an envelop at rightangles to each other.

A further object of the invention is to improve the general constructionof envelop openers, in order to secure simplicity and lightness ofstructure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a work support forenvelop openers constructed to discharge the work or envelop after eachcutting operation, thus permitting the user of the machine to make 7ready for the cutting of another envelop.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain parts andcombinations of parts all of which will be hereinafter described, thenovel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a top view of an envelop opener constructed in accordancewith this invention; Fig. 2 is a section on the lines aa Fig. 1 and Fig.5; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed section of the cutter gage andcooperating parts; Fig. 4 is a top view of the envelop opener with thecover member removed; Fig. 5 is a section on the line b?) Fig. 1; Fig. 6is a section on the line oc Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 isa detail view of theSpecific-ation of Letters Patent. a$entefl Sgpt, 12, 1916 Applicationfiled March 27, 1912. Serial 110.38%,576.

prising, in this instance, three hollow posts indicated-at 1, 2and 3respectively and connected at their bottoms by base pieces 4. Supportedon the posts is a cover plate or member 5 which may have, dependingflanges 6 between the posts on the rear side of the frame. Upon theunder side of the cover plate may also be arranged stationary cutters 7and 8 positioned preferably at right angles to each other, the platehaving two pockets 2 to one side of the knives or cutters tapermg towardthe posts 1 and 3 from the post 2 where they merge into each other.

Adapted to cooperate with the stationary or fixed cutters 7 and 8 aremovable cutters 10 and 11 which may be arranged on carriers 10* and 11pivoted, in this instance, respectively to the rear sides of the posts 1and 3 and movable upwardly to effect such 00- operation. The pivotingmay be effected by driven by a motor which periodically operates thecutters whenever an envelop is presented to such cutters. In thisinstance, the motor is in the form of a solenoid comprising a coil 14arranged vertically within the hollow post 2 upon an annular seat 15and.

having a core 16 operating vertically therein, said core having anon-magnetic extension 17 at its upper end connected with the twocutters. Preferably each cutter carrier has a flattened eye'18 at itsfree or swinging end operating within the post 2 above the coil 14, thepost being cut away at 19 above the solenoid to permit .the cuttercarriers to extend therein. The non-magnetic or copperextension 17passes through the eyes 18 and has a rigid disk 20 below the eyes forcooperating with the under eye and with the top of the solenoid coil forthe purpose of elevating the .cutterswhen the core 16 is elevated andalso for limiting the downward movement of the core 16. The coilhas'line conductors 21 connected thereto, one of which is connected tothe terminal 22 and the other of which is connected to the terminal 23of the solenoid- The conductors lead through an insulating bushing 24 inthe post 2 to any suitable source.

A controlling means for the solenoid or motor is, in this instance,either one or both of the gages 25 and 26, which are mounted upon thecarriers 10 and 11*, respectively, each being pivoted to its carrier byproviding a flanged portion 27 turned inwardly along the lower edge ofeach gage and seated loosely within an L-shaped pocket which is closedby the proximate knife or cutter 10 and 11 so that said knife or cutterserves also to retain its gage. The upper edge of each gage lies orprojects into one of the pockets 9 and cooperates with the inner or rearface of one of the stationary cutters 7 and 8 which serves to limit theoutward movement of the gage under the action of its spring 29. Thepivoted or swinging movement of the gages is utilized for controllingthe motor or solenoid l4 and to this end a contact or terminal 30 isarranged upon the rear face of each gage to coiiperate with a contact orterminal 31 arranged within an insulating bushing 32, which is supportedby a projection on the proximate knife carrier 10 or 11 From each of theterminals 31, a conductor 3% leads to connect with a common terminal 35on the solenoid. It is apparent that the gages 25 and 26, together withthe knife carriers 10 and 11 and the frame of the machine, serve asconductors for establishing a circuit from either of the terminals 30 onthe gages to the terminal 36 of the solenoid which, in this instance, isthe upper head of the solenoid coil, so that, when either of the setsof. terminals 30 and 31 are in cooperation, a circuit will beestablished by way of one of the conductors 21, coil 14;, one of theconductors 3%, contacts 31 and 30, gage 25 or 26, the frame of themachine, terminal 36, coil ll, and conductor 21, which will energizecoil 14, elevate the core 16 and cause the proximate ends of the knifecarriers 10 and 11" to be elevated, thus effecting cooperation betweenthe movable cutters 10 and 11 and the stationary cutters 7 and 8, theamount of material tobe removed being determined by the movable gages 25and 26.

Another controlling device for'motor or solenoid may be brought intooperation after the envelop has been cut, in order that the cutters maymake their movements. In this instance, the solenoid is deenergized whenthe cutters have completed their cutting movements. Preferably, this iseffected by short circuiting the solenoid and, to this end, a conductor37 is carried by the lower end of the solenoid core 16 in a position toconnect the terminals 22 and 23 when the solenoid core is elevated toits extreme position.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a clamp or worksupport which holds an envelop firmly until it has been opened afterwhich the support moves or tilts torelease automatically said envelopand drop it by gravity so that it is possible to handle another envelopfor presentation to the machine, while the machine is operating upon theenvelop previously fed thereto. r In this instance, the clamp or worksupport consists of a rock shaft 38 journaled at its ends in the posts 1and 2 and carrying between its ends a number of gripping or supportingdevices 39 which preferably are in the form of curved fingers or armsmade of resilient material and cooperating with the stationary cutter '7beneath which the shaft 38 is located, the fingers projecting beyond theforward edges of the cutter 7 and being turned downwardly in order tofacilitate the introduction of the envelop between the gripping fingersand the cutter 7, and the envelop being pressed down wardly upon theprojecting portions of the fingers and pushed reaiwvardly. A coil spring40 may surround the shaft 38 at one end thereof, being secured to theshaft and to a fixed part, in order that the shaft may have a normaltendency to turn in a direction to press thegripping fingers againstwith an arm at?) extended forwardly from the shaft 38. A. spring itnormally holds the'dog i1 against a stop 45 so that, on the downwardmovement of the cutter 11, the dog 41 engages the arm 43 and depressesthe fingers 39 from engagement with the cutter 7, whereas on the upwardmovement of the cutter 11, the dog 41 yields and passes above the arm 43without actuating the latter.

In the use of the invention, anenvelop is introduced above the fingers39 and is shifted to engage either or both of the gages 26, thusestablishing a circuit which energizes the coil H and causes the knivesor cutters l0 and 11 to be elevated until the contact 37 bridges thespace between the terminals 22 and when the coil 14 will be deenergized.This causes the lowering of the cutters 10 and 11 whereupon the pawl ordog 4:1 will engage the arm l3 and swing the gripping devices 39downward slipping off such arm after a. certain position has beenreached. lVith the downward swinging of the gripping or supportingdevices 39, the envelop will drop by gravity so that the user of themachine, after he has once placed an envelop in positian to be cut, maylet go of men-res.

the same and make ready to present another envelop to the machine.

An envelop opener constructed in accordance with this invention providesa motor driven device which may be manufactured at small cost. The motoris of the most simple construction, only consuming energy when anenvelop is presented thereto so that the expense of running the'machineis reduced to a minimum. The machine is constructed to operate upon twoedges of an envelop at right angles to each other and a single operatingmeans controls both of the cutters for producing the above results. Thework support firmly holds an envelop during the cutting operation andfinally frees such envelop to discharge the same by gravity.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In an envelop opener, the combination with a movable cutter, and asolenoid for actuating thecutter, of a controller for the solenoidcircuit located in position to be engaged by an envelop when presentedto the cutter.

2. In an envelop opener, the combination with a cutter, of anelectro-magnetic device connected to the cutter, and two controllers forthe circuit of said device, one located to be actuated by the envelopwhen presented to the cutter and one located to be actuated by theelectromagnetic device to denergize the latter after the cutter has beenactuated.

3. In an envelop opener, the combination with a cutter, and solenoidconnected to the cutter, of a controller for the solenoid circuitlocated in position to be engaged by an envelop when presented to thecutter.

at. In an envelop opener, the combination with a reciprocating cutterand a solenoid connected thereto, of a controller for the splenoid tocause the latter to operate the cutter when a letter is presented to thecutter, and a controller for the solenoid actuated by the latter todeenergize the same after the envelop has been cut.

5. In an envelop opener, the combination with a reciprocating cutter,and a reciprocating' electro-magnetic device connected to the cutter, ofan envelop gage, and a controller actuated by said gage to energize theelectro-magnetic device.

6. In an envelop opener, the combination with a reciprocatorycutter,-and a reciprocatory electro-magnetic device connected to thecutter, of a gage, and a controller actuated by said gage to energizethe electromagnetic device, and a controller actuated by saidelectro-magnetic device when the latter has actuated the shutter todeenergize such device.

7. In an envelop opener, the combination with a movable cutter, and amotor for operating the same, of a gage movably mountedj-on the cutterand controlling the motor.

8. In an envelop opener, the combination with a reciprocatory cutter anda motor for operating the same, of a gage pivotally mounted on saidcutter and adapted to control the motor. 7

9; In an envelop opener, the combination with a fixed cutter and amovable cutter for cotiperating with the fixed cutter, of a motor foroperating the movable cutter, and a gage movably mounted on the movablecutter and controlling the motor.

10. In an envelop opener, the. combination with a pair of posts, and astraight edge knife supported by said posts, of means for clamping anenvelop against the under face of the knife so that an edge of theenvelop can project beyond the cutting edge of the knife, a gage forcoiiperating with an edge of the envelop to determine the projectionthereof beyond the cutting edge, and a knife movable upwardly relativelyto the clamping means for coiiperation with the stationary knife toremove the projecting edge.

11. In an envelop opener, the combination with a pair of posts, of "astationary knife supported by the posts, yielding means for clamping theenvelop against the knife, and a knife movable upwardly relatively tothe clamping means to cotiperate with the stationary knife for openingthe envelop.-

- 12. In an envelop opener, the combination with a horizontallysupported stationary knife, of yielding means for clamp- 7 ing anenvelop against the under side of the knife, and a movable knifesupported below the stationary knife and movable upwardly relatively tothe clamping means to 006perate with the stationary knife in order toopen an envelop.

13. In an envelop opener, the combination with a stationary straightedge knife, of a support arranged to hold an envelop against the knifewithone edge projecting beyond the knife, said support being movable todischarge the envelop after the cutting operation, a gage fordetermining the amount to be removed from the edge of the envelop and acutter movable upwardly relatively to the support to coiiperate with thestationary knife in order to remove the edge from the envelop.

movable cutter for coiiperation with the stationary knife to remove anedge from the envelop, said cutter being movable relatively .to the suport. 1

15. In combintionwith. a cuttingmechanismembodying a stationary and amovablev cutter, a work support movable relatively to the movable cutterto hold the work in position relatively to the stationary cutter andmovable to dischargethe Work by gravity.

16. In an envelop opener, the combination with a pair of posts, a coversupported on the posts and having a stationary knife on the under sidethereof, and means for holding the envelops against the stationaryknife, of a cutter pivoted to one of the posts beneath the cover plate,and operating means for the cutter on the other post.

17. In an envelop opener, the combination with a pair of posts, one ofwhich is hollow, of a cover supported by the posts and carrying astationary knife on the under side thereof, a cutter pivoted to one ofthe posts, and operating means for the knife located in the hollow post.

18. In an envelop opener, the combination with a pair of posts, of acover member supported by the posts and having a pocket in the underside thereof, a stationary knife supported on the under side of thecover to oneside of the pocket, and a-cutter pivoted to one of the poststo cooperate with the stationary cutter and operate in the pocket.

19. In an envelop opener, the combinationwith a stationary straight-edgecutter, of an envelop support for holding the envelop be neath thestationary cutter, said support sustaining the work during the cuttingoperation, a gage for determining the amount to be removed from the edgeof the envelop, spring means tending to hold said support with yieldingpressure against an envelop arranged in operative relation to thestationary cutter, and means for moving the support away from thestationary cutter to discharge the envelop by gravity when the movablecutter moves away from the stationary cutter.

20. In an envelop opener, the combination with a movable cutter, and astationary cutter arranged above the movable cutter, of an envelopsupport for holding-work to the stationary cutter, spring means tendingto cause such support to hold an envelop, and means for moving thesupport to discharge 7 the envelop by gravity when the cutter moves awayfrom the stationary cutter.

21. In an envelop opener, having in coinbination a cutting meansembodying a stationary and movable cutter, said cutters having straightcutting edges, a tiltable work-support mounted to turn about an axisextending in the direction of the length of the cutters to hold anenvelop in position, and automatic means for tilting the work supportafter each cutting operation to discharge the work by gravity.

22. In an envelop opener, the combination With a cutting means, of amovable work support for holding the work in a position to be operatedupon by the cutting means, spring means tending to hold the work supportin supporting position, and means operated by the cutting means formoving the work support after each cutting operation to discharge thework by gravity.

23. In an envelop opener, the combination with a cutting mechanismembodying a stationary and a movable cutter, of a tiltable work supportarranged to hold the work against the stationary cutter, a spring forholding said support in supporting position, and means actuated by themovable cutter for shifting said support to discharge the work bygravity.

211. in an envelop opener, the combination with a cutting mechanismembodying two coiiperating straight-edge cutters, of a work support forholding the work'in position to be operated upon by the cuttingmechanism, said work support being mounted to turn about a horizontalaxis in order to discharge the work by gravity, a device for holdingsaid support in supporting position, and a trip device actuated with acutting mechanism to cause the work support to discharge its work afterthe cutting operation.

- 25. lhe combination with a plate, of a rock shaft having spring armsthereon to hold work against the under side of the plate, cutting meansfor operation on work held between the arms and the plate, and means forrocking said shaft to release the work. v

26. The combination with a plate, of a rock shaft having spring armsthereon to hold work against the under side of the plate, a springacting to turn the shaft to hold the arms in cooperation with the plate,cutting means for operation on work on the work support, and automaticmeans for rocking the rock shaft to discharge the work after eachcutting operation.

EUGENE A. BIRCHER.

